Sousoší Panny Marie (Jaroměř) Marian column

Welcome to Jaroměři. You are standing in a place where you must be immediately impressed by your size and extraordinary force. In front of your eyes is the monumental sculpture of the Virgin Mary, which bears all the glory and depth of baroque art. Feel the presence, as this tall pillar, over 15 and a half meters, dominates the entire square of the Czechoslovak Army. It is the ultimate work of sculpture for the whole of eastern Bohemia. Look at its shapes, the dynamics that appear to be alive in the stone. This whole sculpture does not only act as an ordinary monument, but as a living tale of the faith and art that now surrounds you.

Let's go back deep into the past together to understand why this work was created here. A few centuries ago, precisely in the year one thousand seven hundred twenty-one, local townspeople decided to do something extraordinary. They didn't just want an ordinary stone, they wanted to honor the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary in a way that would remain in the memory of all generations. That's why they ordered the work from the greatest master of their time. The whole construction process began in a thousand seven hundred twenty-three. Imagine the work, the efforts of the people who at that time, without modern machines, created such a complex and high unit. The whole process lasted several years, and only on the eighth December of the year a thousand seven hundred twenty-seven took place its famous consecration and feast. It was a moment of great joy for the whole city when this column became part of the daily life of Jaroměře.

Now please pay attention to what you see right above you. Keep your eyes up. At the very top of this composition, you will see the statue of the Virgin Mary. It's her, the center of everything, the figure that rules the whole sculpture and heads for heaven. Then look below, on the balustades and on the individual ledge. There you will see a series of statues of saints that surround the main figure and create a rich and complex group. Feel the hierarchy of how the statues are gradually placed in space and how each contributes to overall beauty. The whole piece is built so that your eyes can constantly travel up, from the details on the lower floors to the highest figure. Feel the richness of shapes that are so typical of this style, where nothing is spared and every area has its meaning.

But to fully understand the size of this sculpture, we need to know the names of the people behind it. The main creator, the man who inhaled the stone's life, was Matyáš Bernard Braun. That is the name that in Czech art means absolute excellence. He designed this whole form, he invented every curve and every move. He was also assisted by Řehoř Theny, who was involved in the implementation of this magnificent project. In the history of this place is also connected the figure of Marie Elizabeth Miselius, which was important for the creation of this work. These people together created something that resisted the trials of time and left us all with proof of their genius and devotion.

And now I'm going to tell you something that may surprise you and allow you to see this place quite differently. You might be thinking that the statues you're looking at are the very original ones created directly by Master Braun in the eighteenth century. But the truth is fascinating and a little mysterious. The original sculptures, the ones created directly by the master, are today stored elsewhere to be protected from the influence of the outside world and time. You will find them in the fortress Josefov, specifically in the first bastion. What you see here in the square is a faithful recovery that occurred during the great rescue work of a thousand nine hundred ninety to a thousand nine hundred ninety-seven. At that time it had to be a quick and precise decision so that the monument could again proudly stand here. Thirty true copies were made at the time, which are so accurate that you don't even think they're the original ones. In addition, did you know that Master Braun charged less than usual when he realized this work? It was a man who participated in this work with unusual kindness and generosity. We can see all this beauty in the old painting, on the watercolour painted by Karel Meisner, which gives us a view of what the work looked like in the past.

I hope that this short journey over time pleased you and that thanks to it you have better imagined the history of this place. You stand in the heart of Jaroměř, where faith, history and the highest art meet. Let yourself remain inspired by the beauty of this city and continue to walk its streets. Every stone here has a story. Thank you for your attention and I wish you a wonderful rest of the day to explore this place again.